West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-13

in the afternoon!"
Jacks heart sauk lower; she evidently
diu not miss him, nor even expect him.
though lac had promised to come, aud
had been looking forward lo the visit all
the week. He had also been making up
his mind what he would say TO Agnes on
that particular occasion; but now. though
the place and time was most propitious.
there was something in her face that dis
courOged him; she looked so calm and
sweet and unconscious Of her own beauty,
she was 80 tendet-hcarted, that Jack -
tchder-heatted, too, and supremcly unself-
ish-found himself wondering how he
could dare to trouble her, or disturb
the perfect even calm of her
life. II she accepted him it,
would be a break, and something OF n
wrench, for Agnes was devotedly at
tached ia her father II she refused him;
he could not help feeling, even in the
midst OF his own uncertainty. that il
would give her pain, aud upset all their
pleasant intimacy, and yet Jack felt that
he must know his fate-'put il To the
touch " without any further delay.
You were expecting ME, Agnes % he
said, throwing himself on the moss at her
feet; and there was so much earncstness
and entreaty in his voice that Agnes
looked mt him attcntively "You know
| would come to-day q"
don't know that thought much
about it, Jack; you often do come on "A
Saturday !"
Il promised to bring you some
books
And you generally keep your prom
iscs, like good boy. What have YOU
brought me to-day ="
81 don't know-never mind; / want
TO talk TO you-Agnes i have something
very particular to say to you-but don't
know how TO begin 49,"
=" Don't begin, then, she interrupted,
with swift diyination of his meaning.
Don't, Jack, and she laid her hand
caressingly on his arm. awe have been
such friends always |"
Cant we be anything more Agnesp
he said, taking her hand. "You know
that | love you-have loved YOU and will
love you always. Friends we must al
ways be. But can't you say one word Z
/ love you SOP
am so sorry. never thought of this. 4"
'And l have never thought OF any,
thing else,n Jack replied with little
'AAAAN- hhNN 1bh olN AbO EOOAi anu
kind to send me away hopeless if there
were any hope"
"There is none, jack
''Then | can only pray for your happi-
ness, Agnes, and say goodbye.
ooh that need not be, surely. You
will soon forget this Agnes replied.
''And," she added, with sudden blush.
that gave the last charm TO her sweet,
thoughtful land, Jack, think /
shall be happy"
'"Thank Heaven for thatp he said,
earnestly. cit is the dearest, the ohly
wish of my heart. All ] see-that is, /
think / understand" and his lips trem-
bled. IF am right, there is indeed no
hope; it only remains for me once more
to pray more fervently than ever,
Heaven bless and keep you always, and
say good bye in real earnest
"Oh not that, Jack surely not that (!
You are my oldest friend-my cousin
almost my brother"
"Were ] your very brother, Philip
Wynne would brook no rival in your
affection" Jack said with strange
hardness in his voice. II must 90, dear.
1t is best
''Best for you, and best for me But
you will come back some day when YOU
have learned TO forget" Agnes said,
gently.
"If / never come back till then, III
never come back at alp Jack cried,
dashing away tear with the back Of
his hand. He was very boyish, despite
his manly heart 'But il ever ] hear or
think you want me, / will come without
a moments delay, even If it be from the
very uttermost ends OF the earth -
And without another word Jack
turned away for in truth he could not
trust his voice any further. He longed
20 be alone; alone with his sorrow, his
awful sense Of lOneliness alone to look
at his trouble; try to realize the magni-
fudge Of it, and consider whether he
could fight it out manfully, with any
chance Of getting the better Of il.
''POor Jack1" Agnes mumured, as she
watched him disappear with tear dimmcd
eyes. 'Poor, faithful, kind hearted
boy never dreamed Of such an end TO
our friendship. And yet II ] had not
been SO seltshly wrapped up in my own
happiness / might have seen, 1 might
have known. But he is only a boy; he
will soon forget"
But even as she uttered the words.
something told her that, boy though nc
was, Jack Hardy would not forget
For long time after he left Agnes sat
on the mossy bank, thinking deeply. II
had been a trying day for her, aud the
deep, solemn silence and the fading light
were soothing TO her Oger-strunQ nerves.
Only a short hour before Jack found her
in the wood, Philip Nynne had asked
her TO be his wife, and after deep and
painful consideration she consented but
10 was a hard task 10 make up her mind,
though the temptation was threefold.
She loved him, she believed he loved her.
and he had persuaded her, not alto
gether against her will, that he needed
her; that she had led him into better
ways, and that, 20 help him aud strength
en- him IN the right path, he must have
her. II she failed him, he would become
again the restless, aimlcss wandcrer
he had been, or perhaps drift into some
thing worse SO reluctantly. because
the thought Of leaving her father was
terrible yet gladly, because she thought
she had gained an influence over hia
wild, unsettled life, that she had the
power 70 keep him ont of temptation
she consented
OF Philip Wynno's early life Agnes
knew nothing lie had boou 4tv1.v iron,